California Fires Spread; LA’s Getty Center Closes

Firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes in Ventura, California. // Photo by Ryan Cullom/Ventura County Fire Department via AP, Newscred

The wildfires in southern California have continued to spread, forcing evacuations in Bel-Air and engulfing an area near the Getty Center in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

KTLA5 reports that the fire near the Getty Center started near the 405 Freeway and Mulholland Drive before 5 a.m. local time, and thus far it has burned about 50 acres. The fire is burning to the east side of the freeway, while the Getty Center is located on the west side.

According to a message on the Getty Center’s website, the Getty Center and Getty Villa will be closed through at least December 6 to protect the collections from smoke from the fires.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Los Angeles Police Department has ordered the evacuation of homes in Bel-Air along Casiano Road, Moraga Drive and Linda Flora Drive. Residents of Mandeville Canyon and Sullivan Canyon should also be prepared to evacuate.

Meanwhile, the Creek Fire has spread through the foothills north of Los Angeles, forcing at least 120,000 residents to evacuate, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. The fire began east of the Kagel Canyon area above the San Fernando Valley community of Sylmar before being spread by powerful Santa Ana winds. The city of Los Angeles, the county and the governor of California have all declared emergencies related to the fire.